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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17389	An exposition vpon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not onely the text is methodically analysed, and the sence of the words, by the help of vvriters, both ancient and moderne is explayned: but also, by doctrine and vse, the intent of the holy Ghost is in euery place more fully vnfolded and vrged. ... Being, the substance of neare seauen yeeres vveeke-dayes sermons, of N. Byfield, late one of the preachers for the citie of Chester.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1615 (1615)	STC 4216; ESTC S120678	703,664	509

man iustified and sanctified thou must know that thy name is written in the Booke of life which cannot be without Faith In particular there are many things which haue a sure promise of ioy and comfort annexed to them First thou must lay the foundation of all eternall ioyes in godly sorrow for thy sinnes Iohn 16.20 Mat. 5.4 Psal. 126.5.6 Secondly thou must hang vpon the breasts of the Church viz. the Word and Sacraments continually with trembling and tender affection wayting vpon the word of God the Law must be in thy heart thou must buy thy libertie herein at the highest value Esay 66.2.5.11 and 51.7 Mat. 13.44 Thirdly in thy carriage thou must be a counsellor of peace Prou. 12.20 and liue in peace as neare as may be 2 Cor. 13.11 Fourthly take heede thou be not insnared with grosse sinne Prou. 29.6 Fiftly wouldest thou reape ioy sow good seede to be much in well-doing procures as a blessing a secret and sweet gladnesse vpon the heart of man a barren life is an vncomfortable life Many would reape that will not be at the payne to sow Iohn 4.36 Gal. 6.7.8 Hee that vseth his Talents to aduantage enters into his Masters ioy a ioy liker the ioy of God then man meeter for the Master then for the Seruant yet such a Master we serue as will crowne vs with this ioy Mat. 15.21 Sixtly be constant beare fruit and get the knowledge of the loue of Christ and abide in it Iohn 15.10 Lastly in the 2 Thes. 5.16 to 24. there are seauen things required in our practise if wee would alwayes reioyce 1. We must pray alwayes if wee be much in prayer wee shall be much in ioy 2. Wee must in all things giue thankes a heart kept tender with the sence of Gods mercies is easily inflamed with ioyes in the holy Ghost 3. We must take heede of quenching the Spirit when a man puts out the holy motions of the Spirit hee quencheth his owne ioyes 4. We must by all meanes preserue an honourable respect of the word publikely preached despise not prophecying 5. And whereas there be some things wee heare doe specially affect vs and concerne vs we must be carefull with all heedfulnesse to keepe those things whatsoeuer we forget try all things but keepe that which is good 6. In our practise wee must not onely auoyd euill but all appearance of euill else if wee disquiet others with griefe or offence of our carriage it will be iust with God we should finde little rest or contentment in our selues Lastly wee must endeauour to be sanctified throughout inwardly and outwardly in soule body and spirit hauing respect of all Gods Commandements and retayning the loue of no sinne so shall we reape the blessing of all righteousnesse and procure to our hearts the ioyes that are euerlasting Hitherto of the Preface Verse 12. Giuing thankes vnto the Father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light HItherto of the Ezordium of this Epistle as it contayned both the Salutation and Preface The second part both of the Chapter and Epistle followeth and is contayned in the 12. Verse and the rest to the 23. And it hath in it the proposition of Doctrine This Doctrine propounded stands of two parts for it concerneth eyther the worke of Redemption or the person of the Redeemer The worke of Redemption is considered of in the 12.13 and 14. Verses the person of the Redeemer is entreated of from Verse the 15. to the 23. The worke of Redemption is two wayes considered of first more generally in the 12. Verse secondly more particularly Vers. 13.14 In the worke of our Redemption as it is propounded in this Verse three things are to be obserued 1. The efficient cause God the Father 2. The subiect persons redeemed vs. 3. The Redemption it selfe as it is eyther in the inchoation and first application of it on earth and so it lyeth in making vs fit or in the confirmation of it what it shall be in the end and so it is praysed first by the manner of tenure inherit secondly by the adiunct companie Saints thirdly by the perfection of it in light Giuing thankes The blessings of God vpon euery true Christian are such as they require continuall thankefulnesse to God for them such I say for the worth of them for number for freenesse of gift for continuance and as they are compared with what God bestowes vpon others in the world To the Father A sanctified heart that hath sence of grace so sees God the first cause of all blessings through the second and next causes that it maketh God the principall obiect both of prayer and prayses it is a great sinne not to acknowledge the instrument by which wee receiue any good but it is a great impietie not to giue that which is due to the principall Efficient The Father Father is a tearme of relation and is giuen sometimes to the whole Trinitie sometimes to Christ sometimes to the first Person in Trinitie so commonly and so here God may be said to be a Father in this place two wayes first in respect of Christ secondly in respect of the Christian. 1. In respect of Christ God is a Father both by Nature and by personall Vnion and in this sence two Questions may be moued Quest. 1. Whether prayer is to be made to the whole Trinitie or but to one person Ans. It is to be made to the whole Trinitie Acts 7.59 1 Thes. 3.2 2 Cor. 13.13 Obiect But prayer is here made to one person Sol. Though but one person be named yet the rest are included for the Persons may be distinguished but seuered or diuided they may not be Quest. 2. Is the Father a Redeemer in that Redemption is here giuen to him Ans. The actions of God are two-fold some are inward as to beget to proceede c. Some are outward as to create redeeme c. Now the outward actions are common to all the three Persons they are distinguished onely in the manner of doing the Father beginnes the Sonne executes the holy Ghost finisheth as in the workes of Redemption the Father redeemes vs in that hee beginnes it by deuising this course and willing it from eternitie by calling sanctifying sending and accepting of CHRIST in time the Sonne redeemes vs by taking our nature and in obeying the Law and suffering death euen the death of the Crosse for vs the holy Ghost redeemes vs by applying the merits and benefits of CHRIST to euery Beleeuer 2. In respect of the Christian God is a Father and the meditation hereof should serue for a three-fold Vse 1. For Tryall 2. For Instruction 3. For Consolation For Tryall for it stands vs much vpon to be assured of this that God is our Father in Christ by Adoption for this is the foundation of true hope for what wee want and of true

sorts of sinnes 3. If it preuayle it may come by some speciall iudgement of God who being prouoked by other sinnes doth leaue men to a spirit of slumber or eternally reiecting them doth leaue them to a reprobate sence or in the power of the sinne against the holy Ghost 4 That we may know God and increase in it we must view his workes search his Booke obey the motions of his Spirit humble our selues to seeke the signes of his presence and for the better successe in all labour for a pure heart Hitherto of the Obiect Parts and End of Knowledge the Cause followeth in these words Verse 11. Strengthened in all might according to the power of his glory IN the words I note 1. The thing it selfe Strengthened 2. The manner of it in all might 3. The ground of it according to the power of his glory or glorious power From the Coherence I obserue that we must be strengthened in Grace before wee can be filled with Knowledge till Grace preuayle euill motions and temptations grow many times too hard for the seedes of Knowledge and the Diuell steales away much of the seede Strengthened There are two sorts of Christians fearing God some are strengthened with all might some are feeble in the Knowledge and Grace of God There are strong Christians and weake infants and men of riper age It is profitable more exactly to consider of both and in the weake Christian I consider 1. Who are weake 2. What helpes to make them strong in the might of God For the better vnderstanding of the first I propound three things 1 What the Infant or weake Christian wanteth by which hee discouers his weakenesse 2. What he hath notwithstanding his wants 3. The happinesse of his estate though he be weake They are but Babes and Infants in Grace 1. That know not the loue of Christ with particular distinct and full assurance 2. That are not able to practise the more strong purging duties of mortification 3. That serue any passion and vnruly affection 4. That are vnsetled in the way of life and tost with the winde of contrary doctrine 5. That sticke at acknowledgement and dare not stand out to the profession of the truth 6. That cannot digest some truths of God as being strong meate and in their account hard sayings 7. That are inexpert and vnskilfull in the word of righteousnesse especially if they be ignorant in the principles other signes may be gathered from the contrary estate of the strong Christian afterwards 2 Yet the weakest Christian whatsoeuer hee wants hath these things 1. Hee discernes the season of Grace and the day of his peace and redemption which the wise-men of the world doe not 2. Though in his owne account hee can doe but little for the truth yet hee will be sure to doe nothing against the truth if hee may know it 3. Hee is not in the flesh hee is more then a naturall man hee is borne againe 4. Hee hath an earnest appetite and constant desire after the sincere milke of the Word 5. He beleeues whiles hee struggles with vnbeliefe 6. The strong man armed which is the Diuell is so cast out by Christ that hee preuayles not as he was wont 7 He can deny his reason pleasures profits and beloued sinnes and take vp his crosse in s●me measure Lastly such a dore may be opened to them that haue little strength as no man can shut and such courage they may haue that they will sticke to the word and keepe it as their best treasure whatsoeuer they lose and by no meanes be induced to deny Christ and his Name 3 His case is happy though weake for hee hath such a High Priest and Sauiour as knowes how to haue compassion on the ignorant and is touched with a feeling of his in●irmities and hath wrought the reconciliation of all his brethren and was tempted himselfe and therefore will succour the weake when hee is tempted and will see to it that more shall not be laid vpon him then he is able to beare it being his charge and office to prouide that the bruised Reede be not broken or the smoaking Flaxe quenched till iudgement be brought forth vnto victory And at all times the weakest Christian may goe bol●ly to the throne of Grace and obtaine mercy to helpe in time of neede The helpes for stren●●ening of the weake are of two sorts some without vs some to be vs●d by vs. Without vs there are many things that may strengthen and incourage and animate the weake 1. There is proposed a glorious inheritance to them that ouercome 2. We haue the example of all the Saints 3. We haue a strong and sure foundation 4. We haue a strong God and his power is engaged to exercise it selfe in our weaknesse and to keepe vs vnto saluation without falling till hee present vs faultlesse before the presence of his glory 5. Wee haue a strong word of God able to build vs vp and make vs wise and saue our soules as being Gods Arme and mightie instrument of his power 6. The spirit of God is a Spirit as of Grace so of Power and helpeth the weake as in Prayer so in euery Dutie and grace 7. Wee haue a strong Sauiour Christ doth strengthen and incourage the Christian three wayes first by his owne example becomming a patterne to vs to follow secondly by application for vnto all that lay hold on him by Faith ●ee is a Priest after the power of endlesse life the Wi●edome of God and the Power of God thirdly by operation for hee hath borne our infirmities by his owne offering hee hath and doth consecrate and make perfect our persons and workes in Gods sight he doth vnite vs to the Father hee giues vs his Fathers glory both in that he giues vs such Graces as will bring to glory and in that he giues vs credit where himselfe and the Father are in credit Thus of the helpes without vs. If any aske in the second place what we must doe that wee may be strengthened I answere 1. Wee must pray for Knowledge and Faith to discerne and beleeue Gods power and promise Ephes. 1. ● 8. c. A●d in the fourth of that Epistle there are fiue things more to be done ●hat wee may attayne to a ripe age in Christ first wee must subiect our selues to be taught and wrought vpon by such Teachers as are set ouer vs by Christ. 2. We must resolue and settle our selues in the doctrine of the foundation and the Principles of truth that wee be not tossed to and fro with euery winde 3. Wee must so be satisfied with the voyce of Christ in our Teachers that wee cast aside all respects of the voyce of strangers not opening our eares willingly to the sleights

If we would not loose our crowne we must shunne 1. The sinne that hangs on so fast 2. Prophane bablings and opositions of science falslie so called 3. Scandall 4. The profits and pleasures of the world so as our hearts be not set vpon them 5. Selfe-loue and trust in our owne iudgement when we thinke our selues wise inough to order our race without aduice 6. Vncertaine running Now for the second that we may run successefully diuers rules must be obserued 1. We must watchfully stop the beginnings of sinne and when we feele our selues begin to halt wee must seeke an healing least we be turned out of the way 2. We must follow peace with all men so farre as may stand with godlinesse 3. Wee must keepe the faith 4. We must labour for the loue of the appearing of Christ. 5. We must continue and resolue not to giue ouer till we haue finished our course These three rules may be gathered out of 2. Tim. 4.8.9 6. Wee must pray that the Gospell may runne more freely for that like a mightie winde helpes wonderfully in the race 7. We must order riches so as they bee no hinderances 8. We must vse the aduise of the best that can be had for skill or experience 9. We must faithfully discharge the duties of our calling Wee must so resolue vpon the race that we labour to be vndaunted and euery way resolued against all afflictions and trials whatsoeuer that may befall vs accounting it all happinesse to fulfill our course with ioy arming our selues with this minde that we will take vp our crosse and endure any hardship At their pleasures This is added as an aggrauation the word notes they did it not ignorantly or by frailtie but they did wrong the conscience of men with desire willingly wilfully it doth greatly increase the guilt of sinne when men do it willingly and wilfully where men do it because they will do it So some men go to law because they will go to law so some will be great Some will doe the lusts of their father the deuill Thus are men daily doing the wills of the flesh The like way wardnesse may be obserued in the negatiue Men will not be gathered Men will not come to the wedding In some things they willingly knew them not it is charged vpon the idle they will not worke Hence those conditionall speeches if yee will receiue it and if any man will saue his soule The vse may be for terror to stubborne offenders God takes notice of it that they sinne at their pleasures they sinne because they will sinne and therefore let them be assured he will be froward with the froward and therefore he will haue his will vpon them vnresistably Hence these threatnings hee wil● take accounts he will quicken whom he will he will giue to the last as to the first It shall not bee after the wills of the flesh the spirit shall blow where he will the mysterie shall be made knowne to whom he will and he will not haue sacrifice Secondly comfort is here implied for if there be so much infection in a will to sinne then there is hope God will accept a will to be and doe good he will accept of the will in prayer and the will to resist corruption of nature and of the will to liue honestly Hitherto the Apostle hath charged them generally now in the words that follow he inforceth his speech more particularly both for matter pointing out Angell-worship as the doctrine he would conclude against and for manner noting foure things in those that brought in that worship 1. That they brought it in hypocritically pretending humblenes of minde 2. That they did it ignorantly aduancing themselues in things they neuer saw 3. That they did it proudly rashly puffed vp c. 4. That they did it dangerously not holding the head c. Worshipping of Angells The maine matter the Apostle striues to beate downe is the worship of Angells as a philosophicall dreame as a superstition that defrauds men of heauen as an hypocriticall and ignorant worship charging them to be proud and fleshly persons that vse it yea he auoucheth they cannot hold the head which is Christ if they maintaine or practise such a worship All these reasons are in the text and coherence against it Which may serue for confutation of Papists who at this day still maintaine it not onely without commandement or any approued example in scripture but directly against the prohibition of the scriptures as in this place and so Reuel 19. the Angell forbids Iohn to do it The Papists offend in their doctrine about Saints ad Angells three waies 1. In giuing vnto them what may be attributed onely to Christ and to God 2. In adoring them 3. In inuocating and praying to them and all three contrarie to scripture For the first they attribute vnto them 1. Intercession 2. The knowledg of all things that concerne vs they rob Christ of his intercession and God of his omniscience now in all this we haue a sure word of God to trust to For for intercession it is plaine we haue none in heauen with him there is one mediator betwixt God and man the man Christ we offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ Let vs therefore saith the Apostle by him offer the sacrifices of praise alwaies Note the words by him and alwaies And whereas they obiect the Angell Reuel 8. that offred the prayers of the Saints we answer that Angell was Christ who onely hath the golden censer and who onely is meete to bring incense to offer vpon the golden altar the indeauour of Peter for their good after his decease was performed while he liued as is apparant by comparing the 13. verse with the 15. of 2. Pet. 1. And whereas they giue the knowledge of all things vnto them they rob God of his glory who only is the knower of the hearts of men 2. Chron. 6.30 and it is granted Isai 63.16 that Abraham knew them not and Israel was ignorant of them And whereas they obiect that Abraham in the 16. of Luke is said to know that they had Moses and the Prophets bookes we answer that that is spoken parabolically not historically they may as well say that Lazarus had fingers and Diues a tongue c. but were that granted yet it followeth not that because the doctrine of the Church was reuealed vnto him therefore he knew all things The second thing they giue is adoration contrary to the flat prohibition of the Angell himselfe in the Reuelation who chargeth worship me not Reuel 19.10 and without all example in scripture or the least sillable of warrant for it besides we see here Angell-worship in expresse words condemned The third thing

desire to haue the doore of the prison open but the doore of his heart open to vtter the mysterie of Christ Noting that it is a greater want to want the liberty of his ministry in respect of vtterance then it is to want the liberty of his body in respect of the prison We should take notice of this for diuers vses 1. For thankfulnesse if there be a doore of vtterance opened in Gods house 2. For preuention of all things as much as lieth in vs that might stop the mouthes of Gods faithfull ministers There are fiue things that stop the mouthes of ministers in generall 1 Ignorance and presumptuous sinnes in the ministers themselues for polluted lips are no lips of vtterance the lips of the minister should be touched with the coales of knowledge zeale and mortification 2. The sinnes of the people many times put the Teachers to silence the rebellion of the house of Israel made Ezechiel dumbe that he could not preach Ezech. 3.26.24.27 3. The violence of persecutors preuailes often to shut the wide and effectuall doores of powerfull preaching 1. Cor. 16.9 and therefore we should pray that God would deliuer his faithfull ministers from vnreasonable and absurd men 1. Thess. 3.2 4. Discouragement and feare silence many a minister in respect of the life and power of preaching 1. Cor. 16.9.12 Heb. 13.17 Lastly humane wisdome not only lets the people from the profit of hearing but likewise it lets the minister from the power of preaching God would Doct. 1. The hearts of ministers yea of the best ministers are naturally shut they haue no gift to profit withall but they haue receiued it and who is sufficient of himselfe for these things Doct. 2. T is God only that opens vnto men the doore of vtterance t is hee that makes the heart of the Priest fat and creates the fruit of the lips to be peace he openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth and it should teach them lesse to feare men and their rebukes and the lesse to care for the rage of the oppressor for if he will giue libertie who can restraine it and if he will silence who can inlarge Euen vnto vs. This manner of speech notes either his humilitie or his restraint in prison or the difficultie of vtterance His humilitie it may note in this sense that howsoeuer he hath beene a blasphemer or persecuter c. yet that God would be pleased to honour him and his worke so much as giue vtterance euen to him and such as he is His restraint in prison it may import also and so his desire is they should not pray onely for ministers that were at large and enioied peace but also euen for him and such others as were in prison for a godly Preacher will not be idle no not if he come into prison and thus also it notes that the wisest men of themselues are not able to teach with power and profit the simplest and meanest men an Apostle cannot teach a prisoner without Gods speciall aid and blessing These words may note also the difficultie of vtterance as if he should say you had need to pray not only for ordinarie but extraordinarie ministers Thus of the thing praied for as it is briefly propounded Secondly it is inlarged 1. by the subiect 2. by a reason 3. by the end The subiect of the vtterance is the mysterie of Christ. To speake the mysterie of Christ. Christ is a mysterie to the Gentiles to the Iewes to Heretickes to Papists to carnall men yea to godly men It is a mysterie to the Gentile that there should be a Sauiour To the Iewes that saluation should be in the Carpenters sonne To the Papists that he should be the Sauiour alone To the Heretickes that hee should be a Sauiour in both natures To the carnall man that he should be a Sauiour in particular to him And to the godly man that he should be such a Sauiour But to expresse this more particularly Christ is a mysterie fiue waies for there are mysteries 1 In the person of Christ for what tongue can describe the supercelestiall vnion of his natures or the treasures of wisdome and knowledge or the fulnesse of the Godhead that dwels in him bodily 2 In his life and death The world could not comprehend the bookes that might be made of the wonders of his birth life and death We may see in that that is written what to adore for in this world a perfect knowledge we shall neuer attaine 3 In his body which is the Church for who can declare his generation or expresse the secrets of his power and presence in filling her who himselfe is her fulnesse and filleth all in all things or describe the manner of the vnion betweene Christ and his members Is not this a great mysterie 4 In the Sacraments of Christ The holy inuisible presence of God is a mysterie the communion of the body and bloud of Christ not locally or by contact and yet truly is a mysterie the seale of the holy spirit of promise vpon the hearts of beleeuers in the due vse of the Sacraments is a mysterie The spirituall nourishment that comes to the soule by such secret and hidden passages inuisibly is a great mysterie 5 In the Gospell of Christ. And by the mysterie of Christ in this place I thinke is meant the Gospell of Christ and it is called a mysterie because of the hiding of it If you aske me where the Gospell hath beene hidden I must answer it hath beene hidden 1. in the breast of God from all eternitie 2. in the shadowes and types of the ceremoniall Law which was the Iewes Gospell 3. in the treasurie of holy Scriptures 4 in the person obedience and passion of Christ who was the substance of the Mosaicall Ceremonies and the quintessence of all Euangelicall doctrine 5. in the hearts of Christians If you aske me from whom it was hidden I answer not from the elect for God by preaching reuealed it vnto them in due time but from wicked men but with great difference for to some there is no Gospell at all giuen as to the Gentile to some not giuen plainly as in those congregations of Israel to whom this euangelicall loafe is not diuided though in the whole lumpe it bee giuen to some not giuen in the power of it for though they heare the preaching yet by reason of mixtures carnall wisdome or ignorance and confusednesse in the Teachers there is little power in it to some not giuen internally though externally they haue meanes in the plentie and power of it If you yet aske me what causeth this hiding of the Gospell from such as liue euen in the light of it I answer it is either 1 The vaile of their owne ignorance 2 The powerfull working of the God of this world to blinde them 2. Corinth 4.4 3 The custome in sinne and customarie abuse of pleasures and profits 4 The